Arruinar vs. estropear
Both 'arruinar' and 'estropear' mean 'to ruin' or 'to spoil' in Spanish, but they are used in different contexts and convey slightly different nuances.
Arruinar
'Arruinar' typically means to cause significant damage or destruction, often irreversibly. It is used in contexts involving severe negative impacts.
El huracán arruinó toda la ciudad.
(The hurricane ruined the entire city.)
Esa decisión arruinó su carrera profesional.
(That decision ruined his professional career.)
La inversión fallida arruinó sus finanzas.
(The failed investment ruined his finances.)
Estropear
'Estropear' generally means to damage or spoil something, often reducing its quality or functionality. It can imply less severe damage compared to 'arruinar'.
La lluvia estropeó el picnic.
(The rain spoiled the picnic.)
Si no cuidas bien de este reloj, podrías estropearlo.
(If you don't take good care of this watch, you could spoil it.)
El calor estropeó la comida.
(The heat spoiled the food.)
Summary
'Arruinar' and 'estropear' both mean to ruin or spoil in Spanish. 'Arruinar' is used for severe, often irreversible damage, while 'estropear' refers to damage that decreases quality or functionality but might not be as severe.